Manzano's lineman Chris Salem, 72, blocks Highland's Kenoe Santillanes, 79.

Jordan Llamas and Tyler Krueger haven't been doing it all by themselves.

Sure, Llamas, a senior running back, scored three rushing touchdowns and carried the football 13 times for 147 yards to help fourth-ranked Manzano High (6-1) trounce Highland 56-6 in their District 5-5A opener at Wilson Stadium on Friday night. The Carnuel resident also blocked a punt, then recovered the ball and toted it into the end zone for a fourth TD.

And absolutely, Krueger, the Monarchs' senior quarterback, played a key role. He contributed three of his team's eight TDs against the Hornets (1-5), two throwing the ball.

But there are a lot of other players on Manzano's roster. Many of them, working in the trenches and out of the limelight, have been crucial to the team's success.

The Monarchs' unsung heroes include five seniors who, in addition to Llamas, reside in the East Mountains. The quintet, four of whom live in Tijeras, include:

Sean Durick, a 6-foot, 185-pound defensive end;

Chris Miyaki, a 5-foot-10, 170-pound linebacker;

Chris Salem, a 5-10, 230-pound right guard;

Josh Kitting, a 5-11, 155-pound linebacker;

and Josh's brother, Justin, a 5-9, 140-pound wide receiver.

"(Those) players play an important part in the success of our team," Manzano coach Aaron Ocampo said in reference to the Kittings, Salem, Miyaki and Durick. "Some players may get mentioned more in the stat book, but if you watch us play, you will see a lot of people contributing to the team effort."

Salem battled Highland defensive tackle Kenoe Santillanes during the game.

"I kind of felt like I dominated him all night," said Salem, who lives in Sandia Park. "I was kind of proud of myself. The key to being a good offensive lineman is working hard in the weight room, staying low. I think I've really improved. I've been getting better."

Durick was in the thick of it until he got hurt. With a bag of ice strapped to his left ankle, he trailed his teammates as he limped and they walked up the ramp to the halftime locker room. They led 42-0.

"It was in the middle of the second quarter," Durick said. "I was in a pile, and I got a helmet to the ankle bone. Right now (Saturday), it still hurts to walk on it, but by Monday, I think I'll be all right."

Sometimes, it's hard for the guys who rarely touch the football to pinpoint a play in which they were a readily noticeable factor.

"I guess, for me, just that sack I got in the first quarter," Durick said. "I got around the corner, and our other defensive end forced (HHS quarterback Dylan Chavez) back into the pocket, and I came up and got him."

Reflective of sacks, Chavez ran 11 times for a negative four yards in the game. The Monarchs outgained the Hornets 274 yards to 90 on the ground, and Manzano had 407 total yards, compared to 197 for Highland.

"It's going pretty good for me," Durick said. "All the work we put in over the offseason is paying off."

Miyaki remembers an open-field tackle he got.

"It's great this year," he said. "It's a great team to be around. I like all these guys. It's just fun."

Justin and Josh Kitting, who also wrestle for the Monarchs, are two of fraternal triplets. The third brother, Jason, is a senior baritone player with Manzano's band.

"We do have to work in band, but we just have to play and have fun during the game," said Jason, who competed in the New Mexico Pageant of Bands at Wilson on Saturday.

Justin caught an 18-yard pass for a first down in the third quarter. The catch was part of a nine-play, 47-yard scoring drive that culminated with a 10-yard run by Scott McCoy with 3:16 left in the period.

The rush, coupled with a Brian Wilkinson kick, put Manzano on top 56-0.

"It was just a quick, 5-yard out (from backup QB Ryan Trujillo)," Justin said of his reception. "Then I was able to miss a tackle and get a couple of yards. It's pretty exciting when you catch a pass in a game. Your heart's pumping. I start in some formations, like the Dyno formation. It's with two tight ends and a receiver."

The three Kitting siblings were born 30 seconds apart on Nov. 21, 1991. Justin is the oldest, and Jason is the youngest.

"I'm not starting, but the team has been playing great so I've been getting some playing time," Josh said. "I guess being aggressive is the most important thing to being a good linebacker. And we have to make our reads."

On paper, the Monarchs football team should cruise past district foes Los Lunas (2-5, 1-0) on Friday and Rio Grande on Oct. 22, before they meet up with No. 8 Eldorado in a 5-5A finale on Oct. 30. Manzano last won a district title in 2005.

"We take it day by day," Miyaki said. "We do think about Eldorado in the back our minds. We know that it'll be exciting. But (this week), we'll be trying to get ready for Los Lunas."

Estancia

Class 2A's third-ranked Bears (6-1) garnered their fourth straight victory with a 40-6 romp over No. 10 New Mexico Military Institute (2-5) in Roswell on Friday. The game's highlights included a two-touchdown performance from Derek Georgia and a 30-yard fumble-recovery return for a score by Gabriel Archuleta, EHS coach Dusty Giles said.

The Bears are now solely focused on their tough District 2-2A schedule. Estancia hosts eighth-ranked Tucumcari (5-2) on Friday.

"Tucumcari can rise up and bite anybody," Giles said.

A win Friday could help get the Bears a top four berth in the seedings for the state playoffs. That would give EHS a bye past the first round.

"We've got a shot at that," Giles said.

Moriarty

The Pintos (2-4), as a result of their homecoming win over Class 5A West Mesa on Oct. 2, reemerged in the top 10 with a No. 8 position in the 4A poll last week. Moriarty, on the road, subsequently fell 42-0 to 4A's No. 1 Belen (7-0) on Friday.

The Pintos, however, were the only team among the Eagles' victims this season to hold the Valencia County squad scoreless in the first quarter. Moriarty threatened to draw first blood when on the initial drive of the game, the Pintos drove from their 25 to the Eagles 12 before the Belen defense stiffened.

Moriarty's defense stymied the vaunted Belen running attack during the Eagles' first three possessions, forcing two punts. The Pintos then made Belen attempt a 32-yard field goal, which was wide right.

The rest of the game was a whole different story.

Moriarty hosts Farmington Piedra Vista (1-5) on Friday.

Mountainair

The Mustangs (3-3), who moved up to fifth in the eight-man rankings after their upset at then-No. 2 Clovis Christian on Oct. 2, lost 64-8 to No. 1 Melrose (7-0) in Mountainair on Friday. The 'Stangs will host Foothill (1-5) for their District 1-8M opener on Friday.

Valencia County News-Bulletin sports writer Curt Gustafson contributed to this report.